What is happening:

The UMSL Police Dept., with the help of ITS, is in the process of implementing a new software tool that will allow any individual to contact the police directly from their mobile devices (using a mobile app), as well as from a desktop PC (using what is called a Desktop Panic Button). These two methods of contact are separate applications and will be implemented individually. This summary describes the implementation of the Desktop Panic Button. This application is deployed on all Instructor Workstations in the classrooms and is now available for individuals to install on their personal desktop workstations if desired.

If you can dial 314-516-5155 please do, so that you to speak with an officer and communicate what is happening. The application is only for emergencies.

Expected Benefits:

Anyone will be able to send a panic request directly to the police department to have an officer dispatched to their location by executing a simple application from their desktop.

This will be a 3 phase implementation:

The Desktop Panic Button

Phase 1 – All Instructor Workstations in classrooms have the application installed and there is an application icon on the desktop as well as a small icon in the system tray (in the lower right corner of the task bar). This application is configured with the appropriate information for identifying to the police the location of the workstation so the officer can be dispatched accordingly. The application is only available on Windows PCs (no MAC download available).

Phase 2 – Now Available. Any individual faculty or staff member will be able to download, install, and configure the application onto their personal, UMSL-provided desktop workstation that is used on the North or South Campus. They will be responsible for entering and maintaining the configuration properties identifying the location of the workstation to ensure the police are notified appropriately. The application is only available on Windows PCs (no MAC download available). Please visit software distribution to download the Desktop Panic Button software. Installation/configuration instructions can be found on the download site and here.

The desktop icon looks like this:

The system tray icon looks like this:

When the system tray icon is double-clicked,or the desktop icon is double-clicked, a timer will open giving the individual a 6-second countdown in which to cancel the request. If the request is not canceled, the police will receive notification that a panic alert was triggered at the location specified in the application configuration.

NOTE: it is recommended to only install this on desktop computers. It CAN be installed on laptops, but the configuration does not change as the laptop moves, so it will always report the location as configured. To be accurate, the configuration would need to be changed every time the laptop changes location. The same is true for the desktop computers, for instance if someone moves to a new office, but these situations do not happen as frequently as a laptop moving about.

Phase 3- Mobile app, more information to follow later.

If you can dial 314-516-5155 please do, so that you can speak with an officer and communicate what is happening. The application is only for emergencies.